‘Un Regard Oblique’
Updated: Sep 26
ζA Tribute to Robert Doisneau
I came across the work of Robert Doisneau many years ago. One of his first pictures I saw was the famous ‘The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville’. I was instantly captivated and started to look for more. Then I discovered ‘Un Regard Oblique’ (A Sideways Glance). This picture was taken in Paris, in 1948 and is one of the most thoroughly analyzed or, overanalyzed pictures ever taken. Doisneau hid his Rolleiflex camera set at the correct angle to the nude on display at Romi’s art gallery to take a series of furtive pics of spectators. This was his last shot on the film roll. The aim was to capture a fleeting glance in a rather complex setup. A glance that cannot be predicted and that can convey a myriad of different emotions. In his case it was the dream of the male for the forbidden fruit. But a sideways glance can also convey mischief, annoyance, curiosity, indiscretion, menace, provocation, expectation, happiness, surprise, mockery and perplexity, sadness, weariness among other feelings.
Some time ago while curating my photos for a contest I realized that I had several pics that could fall under the topic of the sideways glance. Unlike Doisneau’s picture my pics were not taken aiming specifically at capturing this glance. But the sideways glance was there conveying the many different emotions set out above. And whereas Doisneau’s picture was set up in a more or less predictable environment, my pics (apart from one) are candid 'decisive moments' taken on the move without any preparation. So the sideways glance captured there is pure luck.
Needless to say that Doisneau is one of my favorite photographers. His humanistic approach to photography has greatly influenced my own approach to street photography.
'The Original' - 'Un Regard Oblique', Robert Doisneau, Paris, 1948
'The Forbidden Fruit' ('Un Regard Oblique' 76 years later) - Place Colette, Paris, 2024
'Despair' - Xanthi Geece, 2022
'Serenity' - Paris, 2021
'Anger' - Paris, 2026
'Provocation' - Thessaloniki Greece, 2025
'Mockery' - Paris, 2021
'Joy' - Paris, 2026
'The Mysterious Smile' - Thessaloniki Greece, 2026
'Weariness' - Thessaloniki Greece, 2026
'Perplexity' - Vienna, 2025
'The Forbidden Fruit' - Budapest, 2026
'Boredom' - Thessaloniki Greece, 2026
'Skepticism' - Thessaloniki Greece, 2026
'Expectations' - Paris, 2026
'Curiosity' - Canea Crete, 2025
'Annoyance' - Paris, 2026
'Stillness' - Paris, 2024
'Fooling Around' - Budapest, 2026 *
'Dreams' - Thessaloniki Greece, 2026
'Malice' - Florina Greece, 2025
* The one and only staged pic of the series.
Συγαρητήρια Θάνο ! Πολύ προσεγμένη δουλειά με εξαιρετικό αποτέλεσμα. Η μελέτη φωτογράφων όπως ο Doisneau συνειδητά ή ασυνείδητα πάντα μας επηρεάζει κατά την λήψη. Οι νοητές ευθείες των ματιών προκαλούν το ενδιαφέρουν και φυλακίζουν ευχάριστα το βλέμμα του θεατή. Μπράβο !
A very enjoyable read - and some lovely photos too. If I had to choose a top four: Expectations, Malice, of course The Forbidden Fruit, but most definitely Serenity, which I love! 👍Nice tribute Thanos! Cass👍😊👍
Great stuff as usual.
A very interesting post.
I also took many of my photos covertly, as I don't always have the courage to approach directly. This has the advantage, as in your photos, that the subjects don't know it, behaving naturally and often surprisingly.
I've developed a gunslinger method – shooting from the hip. I hold the camera loosely in my hand, and no one notices me constantly pressing the shutter button.
I like your work, as well as the work of Doissenau, Breson, and Erwitt. They are my idols when it comes to street photography.
Your work is excellent. Congratulations Thanos !!!